Fall

- Rosebury Ave, St Louis, 2009 -

Thought I should go out and benefit from the rare sun and take some photos today, especially since the weather forecast for the week does not seem too promising, i.e. cloudy/rain/cold. This is my first autumn ever, though I have been told that this place has somehow skipped autumn and gone straight to winter, given the sudden drop in temperature. Either way, it is freezing cold!

Nothing much to update; survived the 2nd stats exam, have another exam this week, got a poster to do for a conference as well as stimuli to construct for my study.

Am currently still traumatized by house bugs. Wondering if the bugs will be having a month-long winter party at my house should I go home at the end of the semester. =|

The End & A Beginning

- Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis, 2009 -

It's been a really long week and the weekend is a much welcomed respite from school. Typing this while freezing my toes off just because I'm too lazy/cheap to turn on the heater. But I'll turn it on soon, just because I like the feeling of being lightly toasted (it makes my apartment smell like an oven too). Then I'll turn it off, because for some reason, either because my comforter is that awesome or I sleep like a dead log, that I don't feel the cold when asleep.

Talking about the weather was not my initial intention for this post; I guess I couldn't find the right words to talk about how the past week went. Because I'm just that sort of person.

End of Orientation

- Washington University in Saint Louis, 2009 -

Classes officially start tomorrow but mine start on Thursday. In any case, today was a lovely way to end off the orientation - the library is awesome! Glad I turned up for most of the orientation events and met all these wonderful people :)

Finally bought some dates to break fast with, thanks to Sarah, who is a sweetheart! :)

Love this place!

Ramadhan Kareem to all :) And happy 400th anniversary of Galileo's telescope, as according to Google.

Another Day

- Saint Louis, MO, 2009 -

A little update while I wait for maghrib. Cooked ayam kicap tomato (chicken cooked in tomato and soya sauce) and stir-fry vegetables today, maybe I'll upload the photos another time.

On another note, I was wondering if I should start a new blog to chronicle my PhD blues/adventure, especially since it's the beginning of a new milestone in my life... oh well, who knows if I'll even have time to upkeep a blog once school starts!

Orientation starts on Monday!

Have a great weekend everyone. :)

Overseas

- St. Louis, MO, 2009 -
From top left: on the plane; Crowne Plaza, Clayton; my bed; Sunrise from my bedroom window; Washington University; Yellow fire hydrant; the Arch by the Mississippi river; Museum of Westward Expansion (under the Arch); Busch Stadium; Guess the animal 1; Guess the animal 2; Hibiscus; flamingos; love the flora & fauna here.

Just a little update since I've just uploaded my photos using my aunt's cable. Not feeling that great since things that I was supposed to bring are either missing or did not get packed. Now I've got to get back to my thesis.


Oh yeah, Happy National Day to everyone.

44 Days

- Perth, 2008 -

Back after a 4-month hiatus.. 44 more days till I get on the plane! Have pretty much settled all the things I need to do before I leave except for submitting the deposit to hold my apartment till I arrive and most importantly, my thesis. :P Pray I get through this!

In other news, there's a gaping hole in my gum, thanks to an unplanned wisdom tooth surgery due to a sudden infection from a cyst. Note to self: get a better and more reassuring dentist next time. Now I'm not even sure if I can eat all my favourite local food before I leave. :(

Need to start packing soon.. Does anybody want to donate anything to my new apartment? :P

Keep cool during this hot weather! :)

Because love is all you need

- Fremantle, Perth, 2008 -

The past week has been another rough week, with a high fever and a throat infection that left me bedridden and voiceless for a few days. It still hurts to speak and I still cough every minute; I really pray that the following week (and the weeks to come) will be a much easier one on the body and soul.

The past week was also full of good news and bad news, but in my half-drugged torpor, all I could think about was when my voice was going to come back and when my chest will stop feeling sore from all that coughing, which is still all that I can think about these days.

So pardon me if I have not been in a good mood, if I have not been finding your wisecracks amusing or if you have suffered the brunt of a significantly shortened fuse. Now is just not a good time, unless you are going to be bringing me some love, or lucre, or both.

Postcard from Perth (2)

- AQWA, Perth, 2008 -

They asked me how I knew...

- Central Cafe, Perth, 2008 -

It has been a trying week for me, what with heading to the lab every day, facing sudden glitches in my grad school applications, talking to rude administrative staff overseas over the phone and more. Nonetheless, it comforts me to know that despite such tests of patience, I am still able to find little sprigs of blessings that come in the form of family, friends and strangers. :)

Mere Coincidence or Part of the Plan?

Was just reading through my blog archives when I found this - saying that I should major in Linguistics, all the way back in 2006, a good 3 years ago! Am I the only one who found it bizarre that I'm doing Psycholinguistics now?

I pray for a good start to my academic year which begins today, Aamiin! :)